¿
April 17, 1909.1
Church. Mr. Hooper then quoted figures to show that if all Chinese were buried there we would require a new cemetery in six weeks.
The motion, on being put to the meeting, was carried by six votes to three, the President and the Chinese members voting against it.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE
AMENDMENT.
A copy of the amending Ordinance was for- warded to the Board by Government. The most important changes in the Bill were the proposed transfer of the control of markets to the head of the Sanitary Department and the delegation of authority to the Governor-in- Council and the Secretary of the Sanitary Board to issue permits for exhumation.
Why
Mr. HOOPER suggested that the Government be informed that it was not advisable to allow notices intended for owners of property under any circumstances to be served on the tenant. Speaking on behalf of European land owners, he said that trouble had arisen previously, and that the practise had caused great inconvenience; so much so that the Commission particularly made a recommendation on that point. If it was a hardship for the European owners, then it was a greater hardship for the Chinese owners, and would open the door to corruption greater than before. What would happen They were going to allow a notice that was intended for an owner, to be left at the discretion of a sanitary inspecter with a tenant, and of course the in- spector would leave it with bim. Because when he found out a nuisance existed in a Chinese house it was his duty to find out who the owner was and acquaint him, so that a proper legal notice might be drawn and served on the owner. He did not think it fair to place that temptation in the hands of any in- spector, for he would in the majority of cases leave the notice with the tenant. The other day an official notice, signed by the Secretary of the Board, was address- ed to the Secretary of -the Land Investment Co. he notices byelaws required such notice to be served on the owner, or where a limited liability company, on the secretary. When the server was told to take the notice into the speaker's office and serve it in a proper way he threw it down on the table and declined to do so. There would be hundred of complaints. A notice would be served on a tenant for something to be carried out in eight- and-forty hours, and the owner might be away at the time. No notice intended for an owner should be served on a tenant unless the former was absent from the Colony, and had no agent here.
it was
Hon. Mr. HEWETT entirely agreed with Mr. Hooper. The Government made the owner the responsible person, and clearly it was the duty of the Government to serve the owner. It was only a gross piece of laziness on the part of the subordinate officials that they should serve the notice on the tenant instead of the owner, and as Mr. Hooper had said, it was a direct incentive to corruption, which, unfor- tunately, we know in the past history of the Sanitary Board had been a very serious matter. It was for that reason that members of the Commission specially reported that in future all notices of this sort should be served upon the
There owner. for the Government to say did not know who the owner
that they could find out in six hours, and if he was absent They from the Colony the notice could be served on the agent.
was
no
was.
excuse
owner or
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The VICE-PRESIDENT suggested that the mover should add, "Or that if the address of. such owner cannot be ascertained through the proper channels, etc."
Mr. HOOPER-I would prefer to leave it to the Magistrate that the prosecutor should prove that,
Hon. Mr HEWETT-Apparently, according to what has been said, some Government officials don't keep their books in a proper state.
property
The VICE-PRESIDENT-Occasionally is in a somewhat abandoned state.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Does the Government resume any land because taxes have not been paid? I have never heard of such a case yet.
The motion was agreed to.
The VICE-PRESIDENT, after referring to different clauses in the Ordinance, said members had it on Mr. Hewett's authority that the address of an owner could be found after six hours' notice. The speaker had sometimes found out that it was quite impossible to ascertain the address of an his agent. On many occasions recourse had to be made to the police, and some- times that course failed, Ordinance as it stood provided all reasonable He thought the protection in that respect.
Hon. Mr. HEWETTAs it stands. Therefore we don't want the amending ordinance,
Mr. HOOPER moved That this Board con-
$4
siders it advisable for all notices addressed to
the owner be served on such owner and not on
the tenant unless the owner or his authorised agent are out of the Colony."
Hon. Mr. HEWETT seconded.
DRAFT ESTIMATES.
The draft estimates for 1910 were forwarded
to the Board.
now
The Acting Head of the Department, Mr. R. O. HUTCHISON, Submitted a lengthy minute Dealing first with personal emoluments he as to changes suggested in the draft estimates, stated that it was proposed to do away with the post of principal clerk and appoint a secretary at a salary of £360 to £420. Under the vote "coolies the total number provided waş 88, which number he thought, would have coolies from a contractor for such work as to be increased as the method of engaging traction, disinfecting, etc., had been found to recommend provision for 100 permanent unsatisfactory. He proposed in the estimates coolies. stated that the estimates for 1909 amounted Under the head of disinfectants he to $13,000 and as amount expended was $7,095 he thought it during 1908 the total
the vote for 1910. He pointed out that a con- was safe to make a considerable reduction in siderable saving could also be effected in the lighting of the Central Market by means of Kitson lights and the Electric Company had also offered to contract to light the market un- der certain conditions at a considerably cheaper rate. The saving effected would be -3,000. With regard to the removal of ceilings he thought that provision ought to be made for compensation under this work and suggested that a definite sum should be asked for, namely $10,000.
Mr. SHELTON HOOPER minuted-A copy of the draft estimates ought to be furnished to each member of the Board. It is impossible in thoroughly digest them. the short time allowed for circulation to
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Lagree with Mr. Hooper The Board should also have a copy of the Chair- man's minute re estimates.
Hooper.
Mr. Ho KoM TONG-I agree with Mr.
A THIEF AND A TRESPASSER.
goods shop in Jervois Street and asked to be shown On Sunday three natives walked into a piece various goods. Articles they wished to examine were placed on the counter and in the course of the inspection one of the men departed with a roll of silk, the other two taking to their heels before he was well clear of the shop and before the shopmen were aware of their loss. An arrest was subsequently made by a European constable, who was followed to the station by an inquisitive Chinese. In the charge room while the accused man was being charged the unknown man went and stood beside him near the prisoners' bar.
Who is the second man?" asked Inspector Fenton.
+1
"I don't know," answered the constable, "but he's been annoying me all the way to the station
Put him out,
was the Inspector's order. The curious visitor was put outside, but constable was again about to put him out, but returned almost inmediately to the bar. The
Inspector Fenton decided to let him stand where he wished, and placed him on the charge sheet for trespassing.
315
SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. O. D. THOMSON.
solicitor of Hongkong, were greatly shocked to The many friends of Mr. O. D. Thomson, learn on Monday morning that he had died Swatow with the Hongkong Cricket Club team suddenly at Swatow. He had gone up to to act as scorer in the interport match. London in 1892, came out to Hongkong about Mr. Thomson who was admitted a solicitor in
and Hastings. In 1901 he joined Mr. M. J. D. ten years ago, to join the firm of Messrs. Deacon Stephens, and for about twelve months the firm was known as Stephens and Thomson, but since 1902 Mr. Thomson had been practising in the Colony on his own account.
A. Hazeland at the agistracy yesterday. The Both defendants were charged before Mr. F.
and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with native charged with larceny was found guilty
hard labour and six hours' stocks. The trespasser was ordered to pay a fine of $5.
leaves a widow and three young children. The He was nearly thirty nine years of age and deepest sympathy with Mrs. Thomson in her sad bereavement is widely expressed in the Colony.
sudden death at Swatow occasioned such a The remains of Mr. O. D. Thomson, whose painful surprise, were brought to Hongkong It appears that after Mr. Thomson had acted as on Tuesday and interred at the Happy Valley. linesman at the football match on Saturday he was visited by a return of the fits to which he had been subject and he fell in the street. He treatment was put to bed. was taken to a doctor's residence and after
at the cricket match but after dinner he Next day he appeared to be all right and acted as scorer
quently he was attacked by convulsions and complained of not feeling
well. Subse. passed away in the fifth.
legal profession and by others. The cortege The funeral was attended by members of the was met at the Monument by a number of last resting place. The Rev. F. T. Johnson į mourners who followed the remains to their conducted the service at the graveside, Gompertz, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. F. A. Hazeland, amongst those present being Mr. Justice Captain Evans, Captain Douglas, Wilkinson, H. J. Gedge, H. Percy Smith, F. B. Bowley. H. G. Calthrop, H. L. Dennys, A. Seth, essrs. C. D.
A. R. Lowe, J. Hastings, F. A. Wendt, G. H. Wakeman, P. Jacks, J. H. Gardiner, W. Hutton Potts.
There were a large number of floral tributes, among the number being wreaths sent by the kong Cricket Club, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Phelips, Cricket team which visited Swatow, the Hong- Mr. P. Goldring.
NECROMANCER'S BLACK ART.
A gullible Chinese woman, curious to get a glimpse of futurity, told her wish to a wily for tune-teller who revealed incidents in her past life and persuaded her that he could make the future known to her. The sage told the won- dering woman that in past years she had the daughter of an exceedingly wealthy Chinese, experienced much ill-luck. Formerly she was but she had been burned to death. If she would
return to her former state of affluence he would give her opportunity.
Before he consulted the oracles, however, she would have to take all her jewellery to him and, with a touching belief in the skill of the fortune teller, and probably imbued with prospects of an arcadian future, the woman took her 61 pieces of jewellery, valued at over $300, to the diviner, who there Leaving her in the shop, he took the jewellery and then proceeded to prepare a charzn.
with a sealed box which he handed his client. into the kitchen, returning shortly afterwards This, he told her, in addition to being charmed, contained her jewellery. She was to take it home and not to open it for a number of days, | after which it would be necessary for her to call and interview him again. Before the time for conquered her patience. opening elapsed, however, the woman's curiosity Being desirous to admire her jewellery, the sealed box was opened, but the valuables were not there. The box con- tained nothing but rice. The police were tune-teller, and subsequently Detective-Sergeant informed of the black art practised by the for-
he man arrested, of obtaining jewellery by false Appleton effected an arrest. The charge against pretences, will be heard at the Magistracy this
j
week.
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